[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Has there ever been a good example of extremism? My point is that whether or not Dawkins is dangerous, the power of his opinion threatens to be. The problem with extremism of any brand is that there are millions of people who are not responsible enough to quell the ultimate effects of its universal goal, which is always the elimination of an opposing ideology. Dawkins may not wield an anti-aircraft arsenal, or command a regiment of soldiers like bin-Laden, but I believe that both are committed to a similar cause: the extermination of the other side.


I wholeheartedly agree that the manipulation of children for any religious cause is akin to a form of abuse. The problem is in determining where indoctrination and manipulation is distinguished from good moral teaching from a religious perspective. I am certain that you and I would be much closer to the same position on this spectrum thanI would be to, say, Becky Fischer. This, however, does not disuade me in my efforts to raise my son in what I believe to be a Christian environment. Such an environment is one which tolerates reasonable opinion and competing ideas about the quintescence of faith and revelation in a context which champions the dignity of life, humanity, and the importance of tangible service for the improvement of mankind.


I would argue that given human nature's seemingly instinctive desire to form objects and practices of worship, the secular society you envision would almost certainly develop some sort of religious devotion to the ideals of science and naturalism. It may be more palatable for you, but this does not alter the fact that this kind of ideology is still a brand of religious devotion, which is equally susceptible to the types of evil which you and I both despise in the guise of organized religion. To this end, it causes me to ponder how inherently good men truly are. While I believe in the sincerity and qualified goodness of humanity in general, why are people—regardless of creed, or race, or level of education, or cultural sophistication—prone to unspeakable forms of evil? Religion is not to blame for the childish ****ing-contest of humanity, people are. That people are capable of what they are—both noble and horrific achievements—is what confirms my pursuit of my own brand of religious idealism. It is what Jesus did. It is what the Buddha did. It is what Confuscious dreamed of.

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